Sengan-en (仙巌園), the beautiful garden which was a summer villa of the Shimazu family is holding a popular annual historical event.
At Shoko Shusei-kan (尚古集成館), a hina dolls exhibition is being held until April 26th (Thu). Dolls and other materials were brought by Takehime, the daughter of the 5th shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, when she married Tsugutoyo Shimazu, the 22nd lord of Satsuma. These gorgeous dolls, as well as other luxurious and finely detailed items are exhibited.
During the period, other attractive events are also held.

*Sengan-en will be closed on the 3rd of March because of The Kagoshima Marathon.

【Events】

**** THINGS WHICH PRINESSES LOVED; An Exhibition of The Shimazu Family’s Hina Dolls, Hina Furniture and Household Goods *****
(HIME-TACHI-no AISHITAMONO – SIMAZU-KE-ni TSUTAWARU HINA-DOUGU-to HINA-NINGYO-TEN / 姫たちの愛したもの-島津家に伝わるひな道具と人形展)

Shimazu family’s legacy, the “yusoku-bina (有職雛),” dolls clad in an exact replica of the elegant court costumes of the Heian period and luxurious and finely detailed items (total 407 items) are exhibited at Shokoshusei-kan.
Additionally, 21 gosho ningyo (Imperial palace dolls / 御所人形) and mitsuore ningyo (movable sculpted dolls / 三折人形) are also exhibited.

Date: February 16th (Sat) ~ April 25th (Thu)
Time: 8:30 ~ 17:30
Place: Shoko Syusei-kan Bekkan
Entrance fee: You need the multi-site ticket which includes Sengan-en and Shoko-shusei-kan. (Adults. 1,000 yen / Elementary & J.H.S.Students. 500 yen)

＊＊＊ SEVEN TIER SATSUMA-KIRIKO DISPLAY ＊＊＊
(Satsuma-kiriko-no Hinadan-kazari / 薩摩切子の雛段飾り)

A set of Satsuma-kiriko (薩摩切子/ a type of cut glass Japanese craft) on a tier of 7 shelves will be exhibited at Iso Kogei-kan. Satsuma-kiriko is a traditional Kagoshima craft and its delicate brilliance charms many people.
Here in Iso Kogei-kan, Satsuma-kirikos are likened to hina-dolls.

Date: February 16th (Sat) ~ the End of March
Time: 8:30 ~ 17:30
Place: Iso Kogei-kan (磯工芸館/ nezt to Sengan-en andShoko Syusei-kan)
Entrance fee: Free

***** MAKING SATSUMA-ITOBINA CLASS *****
(Satsuma-Itobina Kyoshitsu / 薩摩糸びな教室)

Satsuma itobina is Kagoshima’s traditional craft hina doll made from the early Edo period. They are simple and made of bamboo sticks and paper. It is so simple that it is difficult to tell which is a man or a woman, so they are distinguished by the kimono pattern on the paper.
This is a great opportunity to make Itobina!

Date: February 17th (Sun)
Time: 13:00～15:00
Place: Sengan-en
Capacity: 30 people / day
*Booking required
Fee: 2,000 yen & the entrance fee (the multi-site ticket)

***** PAPER DOLLS FLOATED DOWNRIVER *****
(Nagashi-bina / 流しびな)

Sengan-en has a beautiful meandering stream.
In this season, this stream becomes the place to float away your own impurity and bad luck with tiny hina dolls sitting in a bamboo boat.
People used to transfer their impurities to hitokata (human shaped paper dolls) by rubbing them against the affected area, thereby getting rid of their impurity. And this custom is the origin of nagashi-bina.
Join this traditional event only for girls and ladies and grab some good luck!

Date: March 2nd (Sat)
Time: 10:30 ~ 12:00
Place: Kyokusui-no Niwa in Sengan-sen
Capacity: 60 people (ladies only)
*Booking required
Fee: 2,500 yen + the entrance fee (the multi-site ticket)

***** COMPOSING POEMS IN FRONT OF THE STREAM *****
(Kyokusui-no En / 曲水の宴)

“Kyokusui-no En” is originally a Chinese traditional event. It was held among nobles in Spring from about AD 600 ~ 900.
People sit beside a little stream in which a sake cup is floating. Before the sake cup floats through in front of the person, he / she needs to compose a poem.
This annual event had started in Japan before the Nara era (about AD 700).
Here in Iso garden, the 21st Shimazu lord made the kyokusui garden in about 1736.
You can see this traditional graceful event in Sengan-en. People dress in Samurai families formal costume and compose poems. You will feel like you have traveled in time to old Japan.

Date: April 7th (Sun)
Time: 13:30 ~ 14:30
Place: Kyokusui-no Niwa in Sengan-sen

(Map)